UAAP to suspend matches during FIBA Asia meet

MANILA, Philippines - Giving way to the country’s hosting of the Fiba Asia championship to ensure its smooth staging, the UAAP is suspending its Season 76 basketball games while the continental caging is running from Aug. 1-11.

“There will be no UAAP basketball games on Aug. 1-11,” said board member Luisa Isip of next season’s host Adamson University.

The UAAP board’s decision was made in response to the request of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.  SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan had earlier asked the collegiate leagues to suspend play so that the country can focus on the prestigious tourney, which Phl is hosting for the first time in 40 years.

Most of the games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena, also host to a number of UAAP matches.

Per UAAP’s usual Thursday-Saturday-Sunday schedule beginning July, it is estimated that six playing days will be affected during the run of Asian joust, a qualifier for the Fiba World Cup.

The other collegiate league concerned, the NCAA, has yet to decide on SBP’s request.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the blockbuster Ateneo versus La Salle women’s volleyball game over the weekend, the UAAP has set the rivals’ second round meeting at a bigger venue.

On Feb. 9, the Ateneo Lady Eagles and La Salle Lady Spikers will bring their rivalry over to the MOA Arena. The two previously played to a full-house at the Filoil Flying V Arena, where DLSU hacked out a pulsating 26-28,  21-25, 25-13, 25-21, 15-13 thriller to catch up with the previously unbeaten AdMU at the helm (6-1).

Serving as curtain-raiser to DLSU-AdMU is the second round faceoff between National U and Santo Tomas. Men’s games featuring DLSU against UE and Ateneo versus UST will also be played at the MOA on Feb. 9.

The rest of volleyball action will be held at the league’s usual home, the Arena.